meyers



V'(N0 2 Sheets-Sheet L N. MEYERS,

Sewing Machine.

No. 240,323. Patented April 19, I881.

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N.PEIERS, PHDYO-UTHQGRAPMER. WASHINGTON, D. C.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

N. MEYERS. Sewing Machine.

Nd. 240,323. Patented April 19,1881.

UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

NICHOLAS MEYERS, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO JOHN M. FAIR, OF SAMEPLACE.

SEWING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 240,323, dated April19, 1881.

Application filed October 2, 1880.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, NIoHoLAs Mavens, of the city of Buffalo, in thecounty of Erie and State of New York, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Sewing-Machines, of which the following is aspecification, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain improvements in sewing-machines,whereby the construction of the machine is simplified and its operationrendered more certain and convenient.

The first part of my invention consists of the peculiar construction ofthe feed mechanism, whereby motion is transmitted to the feeddog bymeans of a rock-shaft operating a slide which engages in an inclinedslot in the feeddog, therebyavoidin g the use of alever for this purposeand the play incident thereto, and rendering the feed mechanism morereliablein its operation.

The second part of my invention consists of a peculiar mechanism,whereby the movement of the feed-dog is rendered adjustable, so as toenable the operator to increase or reduce the length of the stitch.

The third part of my invention consists of an adjustable holder securedto the head of the machine for attaching thereto the hemmer, ruffler,and other attachments which are employed in sewing, and which areusually attached to the bed of the machine.

The fourth part of my invention consists of a device ofpeculiarconstruction applied to the head of the machine for clamping the threadand preventingthe same from forming ff a loop below the needle beforethe needle enters the cloth.

The fifth part of my invention consists of a loosepulley of peculiarconstruction, which can be coupled to the needle-driving shaft or berotated independently of the same at the desire of the operator.

In the accompanying drawings, consisting of two sheets, Figure l is aside elevation of a sewing-machine provided with my improvements. Fig. 2is a bottom-plan view thereof. Fig. 3 is a cross -section in line .00 m,Fig. 1. Fig. 4is a longitudinal section of the loose pulley, on anenlarged scale; Fig. 5 is a rear (No model.)

elevation, and Fig. 6 is a front elevation, of the feed-dog and theparts whereby it is actuated. Fig. 7 is a vertical section in line 3 3Fig. 5. Fig.8 is a perspective view of the slide. Fig. 9 is a frontelevation of the head of the machine, showing the tension spring device.Fig. 10 is a vertical section of the same. Fig. 11 is a vertical sectionof the tension-spring device, on an enlarged scale. Fig. 12 is ahorizontal section in. line 2 2, Fig. 10. Fig. 13 is a longitudinalsectional elevation of the arm which is secured to the head of themachine for carrying the attachments. Fig. 14 is a rear elevation of thesame. an enlarged sectional view of the mechanism whereby the movementof the feed rock-shaft is regulated. Fig. 16 is a cross-section in lineto w, Fig. 4.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.

A represents the bed plate, B the overhanging arm,O the head, and shaft,of the machine.

D is a vertical rock-lever, whereby motion is transmitted to the feedmechanism from the shaft 0. The rock-lever D is pivoted to the Fig. 15is c the driving arm B at b and actuated by an eccentric, D,

mounted on the shaft 0 and engaging with the forked upper end of thelever D.

E represents a connecting-rod arranged underneath the bed-plate A, andattached to the lower end of the lever D by a ball-and-socket joint, 0.

F represents a horizontal rock-shaft, supported underneath the bed-plateA in bearin gs f is an arm, secured to the shaft F, nearits rear end,and projecting downwardly through a spherical bearing, g, which isclamped between the jaws e of the connecting-rod E. The bearing 9 slideson the arm f, so that by raising or lowering the forked end of the r0d Ethe bearing 9 can be adjusted toward or from the shaft F.

his a link, which is pivoted with its lower end between the jaws c ofthe rod E and with its upper end to a set-screw, H, which projectsupward through the bed A, and is held by a screw-nut, h, arranged on theupper side of the plate A, in a bearing, k which prevents the nut frommoving in the direction of the screw H, but permits the nut to rotate.By turning the nut in one or. the other direction the screw H is raisedor lowered, whereby the bearing g is raised or lowered on the arm f, andthe movement which is imparted to the rock-shaft is correspondinglyincreased or reduced,therebyincreasingorreducing the movement'of thefeed-dog and the length of the stitch.

I represents the feed-dog, which is supported with its rear end uponapivot-pimi, and which is provided with an inclined slot, t".

J represents a sliding plate, which is guided between horizontal ways j,and provided with an inclined projection, j, which engages in theinclined slot 2" of the feed-dog. The slot 41 is made somewhat longerthan the projection j, and the inclination of the slot '5 and of theprojection j is so arranged that during the first part of the forwardmovement of the slide J the feed-dog will receive no forward movement,but will be simply raised by the operation of the inclines until theprojection j comes in contact with the opposite end of the slot 6, whenthe forward movement of the feed-dog begins and continues until theslide J has completed its stroke. During the first part of the returnmovement of the slide J the feeddog is depressed by the inclines,without moving horizontally, until the projection j comes in contactwith the opposite end of the slot 6, when the return movement of thefeed-dog begins and continues until the slide J has completed its returnmovement.

1 represents an arm secured to the rockshaft 13 and engaging in a slot,1, in the slide J, so as to transmit areciprocating movement to theslide. The shaft F being held in a hearing near the feed-dog, and theslide J being guided in horizontal ways, the actuating parts are firmlyguided, and motion is imparted to the feed-dog without any play or deadmovement in the parts, which is liable tooccur when the feed-dog isactuated by a rock-lever underneath the bed-plate. Both the horizontaland vertical movements are imparted to the feed-dog by this mechanism ina very simple manner.

K represents an arm, secured to the rear side of the head 0 of themachine, for supporting the ruffler, hemmer, and other like attachments.

which are usually employed in connection with sewing-machines. The arm Kis secured to the head A by a set-screw, 7c, passing through a verticalelongated slot, in the upper end of the arm, so that the latter can beraised or lowered. The lower end of the arm K is provided with ahorizontal bore or socket, L, in which the horizontal bar or rod L, towhich the attachment is fastened, is secured by a set-screw, L The bar Lcarries at its forward end an arm, L which is provided with a clamp, L,for holding the attachment. The attachment is by this means secured tothe head of the machine, and takes part in any vibrations which mayoccur in the arm B and the needle-bar and the needle supported thereby,and the attachment remains consequently always in the same relativeposition with the needle. The attachment is readily raised and loweredby adjusting the upper end of the arm K, and it can be placed at anydesired angle with the bed-plate by adjusting the rod L in its socket.

m represents a hook, arranged on the face of the head of the machine,for pressing lightly against the thread with sufficient force to preventthe thread from being pushed down by the eye of the needle in itsdescent and form a loop below the needle before the needle en ters thecloth. The hook m is provided with a shank, m, which slides in anopening in the head of the machine.

n is a fine spring, secured to the rear side of the head, and attachedwith its free end to the shank m, so as to draw the latter and the hookm backward.

O is a bearing-plate, secured to the face of the head 0, and providedwith a horizontal depression, 0,in which the hook at is arranged.

o is a thread-guide, secured to the head 0, above the bearing-plate O.The thread passes from the guide 0 over the upper part of thebearing-plate, then through the notch of the hook m, and thence over thelower'part of the bearing-plate to the eye of the needle. When thethread is drawn from the spool in forming a stitch, that portion of thethread which rests in the depression of the bearing plate isstraightened, and the hook at is drawn forward and the thread drawnthrough the hook. As-soon asthe pull on the thread ceases the hook msprings back and holds the thread I taut while the needle descends withits eye sliding over the thread until the tension of the threadovercomes the friction created by the spring, when the thread is drawndown by the needle in the usual manner. This friction is very slight,and just sufficient to prevent the thread from bending or looping beforethe needle enters the cloth, but not so strong as to prevent the threadfrom being looped by the needle after it has penetrated the cloth. Bythis means the thread is held taut and prevented from formingloops,which would interfere with the proper operation of the needle in formingthe stitches, while at the same time the thread is permitted to move offfreely at the proper time. p

P represents the hand-wheel, which is secured to the end of the shaft 0by means of an elongated hub or sleeve, 19; and Q is a grooved pulley,which turns loosely on the sleeve 19, between the hand-wheel and acollar, 19, secured to the sleeve. 7

R is a set-screw, which works in a threaded bore, 1", in the end of theshaft 0, and which bears with its head against a plate or washer, S,interposed between the head of the screwB and the end of the shaft 0.The washer S over- 7 laps the hub of the wheel 1?, and is provided withtwo horizontal pins or bolts, 8, extending through holes in the wheel P,and bearing against the pulley Q. Upon releasing the screw R the pulleyQ can turn freely on the sleeve 11 without imparting motion to the shaft0. Upon tightening the screw R the pins or bolts 8 are pressed againstthe pulley with snfficient force to impart the motion of the pulley byfrictional contact to the wheel P and the shaft o on which it ismounted.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination, with the rock-shaft F andmeans for actuating the same, of an arm, I, secured to the rock-shaft, areciprocating slide, J, actuated by the arm Z, and provided with aninclined projection, j, and a feed-dog, I, provided with an inclinedslot, 41, in which the projection j engages, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with the rock-lever D, receiving motion from thedriving-shaft c, and the rock-shaft F, which actuates thefeed-mechanism, of an arm, f, secured to the shaft F, connecting-rod E,attached to the lever D, and provided with a bearing, g, which slides onthe arm f, and a set-screw and nut, H h, whereby the connecting-rod Ecan be raised and lowered, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with the head 0, of the arm K, adjustably securedthereto by its upper end, and provided at its lower end with ahorizontal socket, L, and the bar L, held in the socket L by aset-screw, and provided with a clamp, L, for the reception of theattachment, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination, with the head 0, of the hook m m, spring a, andbearing-plate 0, provided with a depression, 0, substantially as setforth. 7

5. The combination, with the shaft 0, of the wheel P, secured theretoand provided with a sleeve, 10, the pulley Q, turning looselyon thesleeve 10, set-screw R, and washer S, provided with bolts 8, extendingthrough the Wheel P and bearing against the loose pulley, substan- 4 5tially as set forth.

NICHOLAS MEYERS. Witnesses:

JNo. J. BONNER, Enw. J. BRADY.

